I wouldn't sacrifice garden bed space for full width steps, but many people like them.

Hi, why don't you have a think about installing composite decking which will allow you to be level with the door sill without the worry of run-off into the house due to the 5mm gap between the boards. Composite doesn't required coating so the maintenance issues are significantly less, just a hose down and sweep or mop with water. You would still need to excavate approx. 250mm below the finished deck level to allow for the sub-frame but if you use treated pine framing with, either H4 stumps in concrete, or galvanised stirrups to anchor the framing into the soil. Check with your local decking pro for further advice and brand options. Generally, the USA made composites like Trex or Timbertech are better quality and the concealed fixing systems are easy to install. Your soil type may be the only issue with water, ie clay which retains water, or sand which tends to drain more quickly. Good luck

Composite decking such as Modwood is much more practical! Timber is a lovely natural material, however you have to finish it and then worry about the maintenance down the track. If you want to avoid stains leaching everywhere than composite decking is definitely the answer. As an initial outlay, it is 2-3 times more expensive.... You will get this cost back down the track when you don't have to refinish it every 12 months!

I second Rhonda’s comment - Feast Watson are widely available and have good tints. If you take a pic to the paint shop, you could ask for help with choosing a colour. One tip: try a small sample first somewhere inconspicuous if possible. Look at it over a few days/different light conditions to help decide if it’s right for you :)